Review of CHT accord, if necessary

Deputy Leader of the House and Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord Implementation Committee Convener Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury yesterday said the government would review the CHT peace agreement if it is necessary.

“The present government will do everything to implement the CHT treaty signed on December 2, 1997,” she told a press briefing at the Jatiya Sangsad Media Centre after the second meeting of the committee at her office in Parliament.

Replying to a query, Sajeda said the government has already pulled out the unnecessary and temporary army camps from the CHT areas and would withdraw other temporary camps in phases, but could not say anything about a specific deadline in this regard. “But the permanent six army camps will be there.”

The deputy leader of the House mentioned that a peaceful situation is prevailing in the CHT area now even after the withdrawal of the temporary army camps.

She said the resources and the natural beauty of the CHT region are a great asset for the country, and the government is very much active to utilise these resources for the welfare of the country.

Santu Larma, answering to a question, said they have discussed ways for strengthening the Land Commission in the CHT and would provide all-out cooperation to the government in this connection.

After the briefing, Larma told reporters that he had proposed the government for reviewing the CHT peace treaty.

Committee member Jyotindra Lal Tripura, CHT Regional Parishad Chairman Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma (Santu Larma), State Minister for CHT Affairs Ministry Dipankar Talukder, CHT Land Commission Chairman Justice Khademul Islam and Bir Bahadur MP were, among others, present at the meeting.